Seating arrangement



s- 16, 1966 P. F. DESTRUBE 3,266,840

SEATING ARRANGEMENT Filed July 13, 1964 mvzm-on PIERRE F. D ESTRUBE ice 3,266,840 Pateiited August: 16, 1966 3,266,840 SEATING ANGEMENT Pierre F. tlEstrub, 3861 W. 12th Ave., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Filed July 13, 1964, Ser. No. 382,050 8 Claims. (Cl. 297-157) This invention relates to seating arrangements and more particularly to a table of suitable construction for use as household furniture and having seats combined therewith.

Seating arrangements to accommodate -a relatively large family around a dining or kitchen table wherein a multiplicity of chairs or stools must be provided, has proven most inconvenient and troublesome to housewives. Where the ages and therefore sizes of the various members of the family are varied, chairs or stools of different heights must be used and, of course, must be changed from time to time as the children grow older. The multiplicity of units necessary and the disorder which usually accompanies the activities of a relatively large family, makes the cleaning of the room in which the table and chairs are situated most inconvenient.

The use of long benches has been frequently employed to keep the disorder to a minimum and to reduce the multiplicity of the separate units. However, the disadvantages of long benches of fixed heights for children of varying sizes is obvious. The use of long benches does not permit easy movement to and from the table, as one must either step over the bench to leave or approach the table or else, those sitting adjacent to the one wishing to leave the table, must move in order for him to do so and, where the seating of children of tender age is concerned, benches are entirely unsatsifactory due to their tendency to tip unless they are firmly attached to the table.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a seating arrangement for larger families having a minimum of movable units whereas each member of the family is provided with an individually adjustable, easily manipulated seat, requiring no tools for adjustment.

A further object of this invention is to provide a seating arrangement which is highly stable and which eliminates the disorder and inconvenience in cleaning accompanying most seating arrangements having individual seats.

Another object of this invention is to provide a seating arrangement in which each component thereof may be fixedly positioned relative to the others, but which may be easily and quickly broken down into components of an easily transportable size to facilitate the cleaning of the room in which the seating arrangement is located or to enable it to be removed and set up in any desired location and which provides a compact unit, which extends over a substantially lesser floor area that would be the case if separate chairs and a table, having the same seating and table capacity, were used.

The present invention comprises a table having at least four supporting legs rigidly connected thereto, a horizontally sectionalized ta'ble supporting framework adapted to be arranged around the table in which each section extends between at least two of the table legs, means releasably connecting each said section of the framework to said two table legs, said legs thereby maintaining said framework in a fixed position relative to the table, a plurality of seats arranged around the table, and adjustable means connecting each of the seats to the framework.

In the drawings which illustrate the invention,

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of the table and seats set up for use,

FIGURE 2 is an isometric view of a portion of the framework, partially cut away to show the means of connecting the seats thereto,

FIGURE 3 is a view of the underside of a seat, showing the manner and location of its connection to the framework,

FIGURE 4 is an isometric view of a fragmentary portion of the seating arrangement showing the manner of connection of the table to the framework, and

FIGURE 5 is an isometric view of a portion of the arrangement showing the seat adjustment means Referring to the drawings and specifically to FIGURE 1 thereof, there is shown a seating arrangement for eight individuals. The arrangement comprises a table 10 having a table top 11 to the underside of which is connected at their upper ends, four supporting legs 13. The table top in accordance with the present invention and in the manner of most table tops, has its corners rounded.

Each leg 13 extends downwardly and outwardly from the edge 15 of the table top 11 to a horizontal brace member 27 and each leg is bent inwardly near its lower ends 16 adjacent the horizontal brace member 27 to which it is attached to form substantially vertical lower end portions 17.

The legs are preferably formed of tubular steel and each of them, as shown in FIGURE 4 of the drawings, is provided with a spigot 19 extending outwardly from its lower end 16. The spigot is preferably of solid steel construction, its upper end 22 extending into the tubular lower end 16 of the legs and firmly connected thereto as by welding.

Extending around opposite ends of the table are a pair of supporting framework units 20 and 21, each being connected to the table legs in a manner hereinafter to be described. Each of the framework units 20 and 21 is comprised of four vertically disposed tubular supports or posts 23, open at their upper ends 24, and having a rounded foot section 25 at their lower ends 26. The tubular posts 23 are rigidly spaced apart by tubular connecting horizontal brace members 27 connected between adjacent supports by means of conventional T connectors, each of the latter being secured to both the horizontal connecting members and vertical supports by welding, or by a process commonly called sweating, or by means of a set screw arrangement, not shown.

Each of the framework units 20 and 21 is so formed that when placed in position at the table, it extends in an arcuate path around the opposite ends of the table a little distance outwardly therefrom, and the connecting brace members 27 thereof are so located that the two outer ones, that is, those two connecting the tubular posts at the ends of each of the framework units 20 and 21 to the tubular posts inwardly adjacent thereto, lie adjacent the upper ends 24 of said posts 23, whereas the brace member between the two inner vertical supports extend adjacent the lower ends 26 thereof. Each of the connecting brace members 27 adjacent the upper ends 24 of the supporting posts, is provided at a point intermediate its ends with a vertical bore 29 extending laterally therethrough, said bore being of a diameter sufficient only to slidably accept the spigots 19. It will be understood that the spacing of the table legs 13 relative to the spacing between the vertical posts 23, is such that the spigots 19 of one pair of table legs, herein indicated by the numeral 30 for identification, at one end of the table, will each mate with the bores 29 in the connecting brace member 27 of framing unit 20, whereas the spigots at the ends of the other pair of legs at the other end of the table, will mate with the bores in the connecting brace members of framing unit 21. It is also to be understood that the tubular posts 23 are uniformly spaced apart in each of the framework units in a manner, whereby when the units are arranged around the table, each of the tubular posts is spaced equidistantly from the tubular support adjacent. The arcuate arrangement of the posts will of course result in at least one of them not being in straight-line alignment with others in the same section or unit. This will of course provide at least three point support for each section so as to render the latter inherently stable. I

Each of the tubular posts 23 is provided with a ferrule 31 at its upper ends secured against vertical movement by a set screw 31a, the inside diameter of the ferrule being smaller than the inside diameter of the posts 23.

Connected, as by welding or by any other suitable means to the inner walls 32 of each of the tubular posts 23 and spaced between their upper and lower ends 24 and 26, respectively, in a manner hereinafter to be described, are a pair of elongated semi-cylindrical shells 33 and 34. These shells are illustrated in position within the tubular posts in FIGURE 2 and in enlarged view in FIGURE 5. The shells each have a horizontal slot 35 extending inwardly medially of one edge 37 thereof, said slots ending in downwardly formed niches 38. The opposite edge 40 of each of the shells has a projecting V-shaped tongue 41 extending therefrom. The distance between the opposite ends of each of the shells is such that when they are secured in position within the tubular posts 23, their adjacent edges are spaced from one another to provide a substantially vertical slot from top to bottom and with the tongue 41 of them adjacent to and aligned outwardly of slot 35 of the other.

The shells thus located within the tubular posts 23 form collars to slidably and rotatably receive elongated cylindrical shafts 42, the latter having two rows of vertically spaced lugs 43 extending radially outwardly therefrom. The cylindrical shaft 42 is telescopically received Within the outer cylindrical tube of post 23 wherein the shaft 42 and the outer tube of post 23 form, respectively, inner and outer telescopically extending segments. Said rows may be located diametrically opposite each other or slightly off centre, as hereinafter to be mentioned. Each of the lugs in each of the rows is paired with a lug in the opposite row. The width of the lugs is such that each of them may be passed downwardly between the adjacent edges of the shells 33 and 34 or to permit them to slidably enter the slots 35 to be received by the niches 38. The length of the lugs 43 is such that they may slidably engage opposite sides of the tubular supports, thereby lending stability to the shafts 42. It will be seen that due to the pairing of the lugs 43 when one of them enters the slot 35 in shell 33, the other of the pair will enter the corresponding slot in shell 34.

The shafts 42 are also provided, near their lower ends, with a pair of diametrically opposed guide lugs 44 arranged at 90 to the lugs 43, said lugs 44 also extending outwardly in the manner of lugs 43 so that they may slidably engage opposite sides of the tubular posts 23. The relative spacing of the lugs 43 and 44 and the location of the shells 33 and 34 in the tubular posts 23, is such that when the lowermost of the lugs 43 is positioned immediately above the shells, the lugs 44 lie below the shells, and the uppermost of the lugs 43 engages the underside of the ferrule 31, thus permitting the shafts 42 to freely rotate within the tubular posts 23.

To the upper end 45 of each of the shafts 42 is connected a seat 47, the latter preferably being of wood and of the same oblong shape as the table top 11, for the sake of appearance. The seats are connected to the shafts 42 by means of conically shaped connectors 49, each connector having a tubular sleeve 51 at its lower end 52 to receive the upper ends 45 of each of the shafts 42 to which it is secured as by welding or sweating thereon or, if desired, by a suitable set screw arrangement, and has a flange 53 formed around its upper end 54 to which the underside 55 of the seat 47 is secured, preferably by means of wood screws 56 inserted through suitable holes in the flange 53.

The seat may be centrally located over the shaft 43. However, it is preferred that it be eccentrically located thereto so that the axis of the shaft is closer to one edge 58 of the seat than it is to the opposite edge 59.

In the use and assembly of the seating arrangement, the framework units 20 and 21 are arranged to form substantially a circle, then the table 10 is positioned with the spigots 19 extending into the appropriate bores 29 formed in the connecting brace members 27 as hereinbefore described. The seating arrangement will then be in the form, as shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawings.

In order to adjust an individual seat to properly position the user thereof relative to the table, the seat need only be rotated until the lugs 43 are aligned so that they may pass between the shells 33 and 34, the seat then lifted or lowered until it is at the proper height, then rotated to bring one of the pairs of lugs 43 into the slots 35, and thence into the niches 38. The tongues 4]. simply serve as indicators and guides to automatically position the lugs 43 relative the slots 35 so that, upon rotation of one of the seats, the lugs will enter the latter to 'be locked therein.

In order that the shafts 42 be freely movable within the tubular posts 23, the diameter of the shafts must be a little less than 'the inside diameter of the ferrule 31, and the lugs 43 and 44 must be a little less than the inside diameter of the tubular posts 23. Although this provides for easy adjustment of the shafts 42 within the tubular posts 23, the loose fit would ordinarily result in the shafts having a tendency to wiggle or flop from side to side, a tendency which is to be avoided. This is overcome by positioning either the paired lugs 43 or the niches such that they are not qiute diametrically opposite each other so that when the lugs 43 are located inside the niches 38, they will move the shafts 42 toward one side or the other of the tubular posts 23, thus jamming the lugs 44 against one side or the other of the said supports and also jamming the shafts 42 against the ferrule 31, thereby tightening the shafts 42 within the tubular posts 23 and steadying the seat.

Later-a1 adjustment of the seats is accomplished by simply disengaging the lugs from the slots, positioning the shafts 42 so that they are free to rotate, then rotating the latter about and again resetting the lugs within the slots. It will be seen that the eccentric mounting of the seats 47 on the shafts 42 provides a two position adjustment to suit individuals of different sizes.

It will be seen that there has been provided a seating arrangement in which use is made of the rigidity of the table legs to securely position the seats relative to each other and to the table, and which may be very easily and quickly broken down into its various components to be stacked elsewhere or to be used in various locations within the house or outside thereof- It will also be seen that the arrangement of the connecting members 27 permits easy access to each individual seat without the necessity of stepping over some relatively high horizontal member or to disturb the individual in the adjacent seat.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A seating arrangement comprising a table having at least four supporting legs rigidly connected thereto, a horizontally sectionalized table supporting framework adapted to be arranged around the table, each section of said framework extending between at least two of said table legs and comprising a series of horizontally spaced vertically disposed posts arranged to follow the contour of the table so that at least one of said posts of each section is not in straight-line alignment with the others in said section, each post being connected to the post adjacent by horizontal brace members, means releasably connecting the brace members of each of the sections to said two of the table legs, said legs thereby maintaining the framework in a fixed position relative to the table, a plurality of seats arranged around the table, and means connecting each of the seats to each of the posts of the framework.

2. A seating arrangement comprising a table having at least four supporting legs rigidly connected thereto, a horizontally sectionalized table supporting framework adapted to be arranged around the table, each section of said framework extending between at least two of the table legs and comprising a series of at least four horizontally spaced vertical posts arranged to follow the contour of the table so that at least one of said posts of each section is not in straight-line alignment with the others in said section, each post being connected to the post adjacent by horizontal brace members, said brace members being connected adjacent the upper and lower ends of alternate posts and arranged so that each section has at least two brace members adjacent said upper ends and each of said sections being located in that said two brace members are each located adjacent a corresponding one of said two table legs, means releasably connecting said two braces to said two legs, said legs thereby main taining each of the sections of the framework in a fixed position relative to each other and to the table, a plurality of seats arranged around the table, and means connecting each of the seats to each of the posts of the framework.

3. A seating arrangement as claimed in claim 2 in which the first-mentioned means comprises a pintle extending downwardly from each of the table legs, and a socket formed in each of said last-mentioned brace members being adapted to slidably receive a pintle.

4. A seating arrangement comprising a table having at least four supporting legs rigidly connected thereto, a horizontally sectionalized supporting framework adapted to be arranged around the table, each section of said framework extending between at least two of said table legs and comprising a series of horizontally spaced vertically disposed posts arranged to follow the contour of the table so that at least one of said posts of each section is not in straight-line alignment with the others in said section, having inner and outer teleescopically extensible segments, the outer segments of each being connected to the post adjacent by horizontal brace members, means releasably connecting the brace members of each of the sections to said two of the table legs, said legs thereby maintaining the framework in a fixed position relative to the table, a seat secured to the upper end of each of the inner segments of the posts, and means for releasably locking said segments in selected extensible positions.

5. A seating arrangement comprising a table having at least four supporting legs rigidly connected thereto, a horizontally sectionalized table supporting framework adapted to be arranged around the table, each section of said framework extending between at least two of said table legs and comprising a series of horizontally spaced vertically disposed posts arranged to follow the contour of the table so that at least one of said posts of each section is not in straight-line alignment with the others in said section, said posts each, having cylindrical inner and outer telescopically extensible segments, the inner being rotatable within the outer of them, and the outer segments of each being conne ted to the post adjacent by horizontal brace members, means releasably connecting the brace members of each of the sections to said two of the table legs, said legs thereby maintaining the framework in a fixed position relative to the table, a seat secured to the upper end of each of the inner segments of the posts, and means for releasably locking said segments in selected extensible positions.

6. A seating arrangement as claimed in claim 5 in which each of the seats is eccentrically located relative to the axis of the inner segment so that upon rotation thereof the seat may be moved towards and away from the table.

7. A seating arrangement comprising a table having at least four supporting legs rigidly connected thereto, a horizontally sectionalized ta'ble supporting framework adapted to be arranged around the table, each section of said framework extending between at least two of said table legs and comprising a series of horizontally spaced vertically disposed posts, said posts each having cylindrical inner and outer telescopically extensible segments, the inner being rotatable within the outer of them and the outer segments of each being connected to the post adjacent by horizontal brace members, means releasably connecting the brace members of each of the sections to said two of the table legs, said legs thereby maintaining the framework in a fixed position relative to the table, a seat secured to the upper end of each of the inner segments of the posts, at least one series of vertically spaced radially extending lugs formed on said inner segment, and a cylindrical shell secured to and C'OZlXiQllY aligned with the out er segment and being adapted to slidably embrace the inner segment, said shell having at least one vertically extending slot formed therethrough to slidably pass the lugs and at least one horizontally extending branch slot opening from the vertically extending slot to slidably receive any of the said lugs.

8. A seating arrangement as claimed in claim '7 including guide means at each of the vertically extending slots arranged to slidably guide a lug into each branch slot.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,540,616 6/1925 Hagopian 108144 2,025,395 12/1935 Lehn 108-144 2,497,001 2/1950 Johnson 297139 2,709,818 6/1955 Freese 108144 2,716,440 8/1955 Silverman 297172 2,805,708 9/1957 Bohn 297157 2,845,110 7/1958 Grawl 297157 X 3,116,088 12/1963 Thaxton 297-157 FOREIGN PATENTS 145,526 3/1962 Australia. 1,112,861 11/1955 France. 1,149,740 7/ 1927 France.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

J. T. MCCALL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SEATING ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING A TABLE HAVING AT LEAST FOUR SUPPORTING LEGS RIGIDLY CONNECTED THERETO, A HORIZONTALLY SECTIONALIZED TABLE SUPPORTING FRAMEWORK ADAPTED TO BE ARRANGED AROUND THE TABLE, EACH SECTION OF SAID FRAMEWORK EXTENDING BETWEEN AT LEAST TWO OF SAID TABLE LEGS AND COMPRISING A SERIES OF HORIZONTALLY SPACED VERTICALLY DISPOSED POSTS ARRANGED TO FLOW THE CONTOUR OF THE TABLE SO THAT AT LEAST ONE OF SAID POSTS OF EACH SECTION IS NOT IN STRAIGHT-LINE ALIGNMENT WITH THE OTHERS IN SAID SECTION, EACH POST BEING CONNECTED TO THE POST ADJACENT BY HORIZONTAL BRACE MEMBERS, MEANS RELEASABLY CONNECTING THE BRACE MEMBERS OF EACH OF THE SECTIONS TO SAID TWO OF THE TABLE LEGS, SAID LEGS THEREBY MAINTAINING THE FRAMEWORKK IN A FIXED POSITION RELATIVE TO THE TABLE, A PLURALITY OF SEATS ARRANGED AROUND THE TABLE, AND MEANS CONNECTING EACH OF THE SEATS TO EACH OF THE POSTS OF THE FRAMEWORK. 